Charley O'Leary
Encyclopedia
Charles Timothy O'Leary was a Major League Baseball
shortstop
who played eleven seasons with the Detroit Tigers
(1904–1912), St. Louis Cardinals
(1913), and St. Louis Browns
(1934).
Born in Chicago, Illinois into a family of 16 children (11 boys), O'Leary worked at age 16 for a clothing company and played on the company's semi-pro baseball team. http://www.deadball.com/oleary.htm His talent as a middle infielder and scrappy hitter came to the attention of Charles Comiskey, owner of the White Sox. Though there is no independent verification, O'Leary reportedly signed briefly with the White Sox, only to have his arm broken from a pitched ball thrown by 'fireballer
' and Hall of Famer, Rube Waddell. http://www.deadball.com/oleary.htm
According to official sources, O'Leary debuted in the Major Leagues on April 14, 1904 with the Tigers. He was Detroit's starting shortstop from 1904–1907 and became a backup shortstop and utility infielder from 1908-1912.
In the offseason, O'Leary and teammate Germany Schaefer
, known as one of baseball's zaniest characters, worked as a comic vaudeville act. The O'Leary/Schaefer vaudeville act is said to have inspired two MGM musicals: the forgotten 1930 film They Learned About Women, featuring the noted vaudeville act Van and Schenck, and Busby Berkeley's last film, Take Me Out to the Ballgame (1949), with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. http://www.libs.uga.edu/russell/online-exhibits/baseball/popculture.html
Not known for his hitting, O'Leary had a career batting average
of .226.
After finishing his playing career in 1913 with the St. Louis Cardinals
, O'Leary was offered a coaching job by his friend, Miller Huggins
, manager of the New York Yankees
. O'Leary coached for the Yankees for 10 years during which the team won six pennants. O'Leary also coached with the Chicago Cubs
(under manager Rogers Hornsby
) and St. Louis Browns.
On September 30, 1934, O'Leary was called out of retirement by the St. Louis Browns
a couple weeks shy of his 52nd birthday. In a pinch-hitting appearance for the Browns, O'Leary singled and scored, becoming one of the oldest Major League Baseball players to successfully collect a hit
and score a run
. With that appearance he became the last major leaguer who had played in the 1900s decade to play in a game.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who played eleven seasons with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1904–1912), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1913), and St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1934).
Born in Chicago, Illinois into a family of 16 children (11 boys), O'Leary worked at age 16 for a clothing company and played on the company's semi-pro baseball team. http://www.deadball.com/oleary.htm His talent as a middle infielder and scrappy hitter came to the attention of Charles Comiskey, owner of the White Sox. Though there is no independent verification, O'Leary reportedly signed briefly with the White Sox, only to have his arm broken from a pitched ball thrown by 'fireballer
Fireballer
In baseball, a fireballer is a pitcher who throws at a notably high velocity. Generally, this term is reserved for pitchers with the ability to throw a fastball in excess of...
' and Hall of Famer, Rube Waddell. http://www.deadball.com/oleary.htm
According to official sources, O'Leary debuted in the Major Leagues on April 14, 1904 with the Tigers. He was Detroit's starting shortstop from 1904–1907 and became a backup shortstop and utility infielder from 1908-1912.
In the offseason, O'Leary and teammate Germany Schaefer
Germany Schaefer
Herman A. "Germany" Schaefer was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played fifteen seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Newark Pepper, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians....
, known as one of baseball's zaniest characters, worked as a comic vaudeville act. The O'Leary/Schaefer vaudeville act is said to have inspired two MGM musicals: the forgotten 1930 film They Learned About Women, featuring the noted vaudeville act Van and Schenck, and Busby Berkeley's last film, Take Me Out to the Ballgame (1949), with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. http://www.libs.uga.edu/russell/online-exhibits/baseball/popculture.html
Not known for his hitting, O'Leary had a career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .226.
After finishing his playing career in 1913 with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, O'Leary was offered a coaching job by his friend, Miller Huggins
Miller Huggins
Miller James Huggins , nicknamed "Mighty Mite", was a baseball player and manager. He managed the powerhouse New York Yankee teams of the 1920s and won six American League pennants and three World Series championships....
, manager of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. O'Leary coached for the Yankees for 10 years during which the team won six pennants. O'Leary also coached with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(under manager Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...
) and St. Louis Browns.
On September 30, 1934, O'Leary was called out of retirement by the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
a couple weeks shy of his 52nd birthday. In a pinch-hitting appearance for the Browns, O'Leary singled and scored, becoming one of the oldest Major League Baseball players to successfully collect a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and score a run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. With that appearance he became the last major leaguer who had played in the 1900s decade to play in a game.